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Rich blooms of amber, gold, bronze and red populate these autumn wedding arrangements. They are bright and striking, but arranged in quite an informal way to give a rustic look. Sprays of blackberries bring a country feel to each design, but be sure to use unripe berries. Ripe berries drop off easily,and can stain clothing.

Autumnal Boutonniere

How to Arrange the Bouquet

This bouquet uses miniature sunflowers; larger sunflowers would overpower the arrangement. This means that it retains a delicate, pretty feel, even though its colours are quite strong.

1. Divide the different ingredients into separate piles. Begin with a rose or calla lily and place one of each of the ingredients around it at an angle to create a spiral stem effect. Use a high binding point to give a compact look. Turn the bunch in the same direction as you add each stem.

2. Add one of each of the different flowers until you have included all the blooms and they are balanced equally throughout the bouquet. Arrange the last two layers of flowers slightly lower around the edges for a domed effect.

3. Secure the bunch with string or raffia. Then, fold a very long piece of raffia four times to create eight strands and make them into a bow. Attach the bow to the bouquet with a small piece of raffia. Trim the ends of the stems straight across with a pair of garden shears.

Autumn Wedding Bouquet has Rustic Look

How to Arrange the Pew End

The arrangement is a simpler version of the wedding bouquet. It contains fewer flowers, but includes another variety of hypericum berry. It is arranged in the same way as a spiral bouquet.

1. Divide the different ingredients into separate piles. Hold a sunflower in the middle of the stem (to give a looser look) and place one of each of the ingredients around it at an angle to create a spiral stem effect. Rather than turning the bunch, make it up facing you. Place the flowers at the back slightly higher up to give a graduated effect.

2. When you have added one of each of all the different ingredients, repeat the sequence until all the flowers and foliage are included and balanced equally throughout the arrangement.

3. Tie the arrangement with a length of string or raffia and secure it in a knot. Then, fold a long piece of raffia four times to create eight strands and make them into a bow. Attach the bow to the bouquet with a small piece of raffia. Trim the stem ends straight across with a pair of garden shears so they are all the same length.

Autumn Wedding Pew Bouquet

How to Arrange the Table Centerpiece

This informal basket centerpiece has a watertight container tucked snugly inside it that acts like a vase, while chicken wire inside the rim of the container ensures that all the stems are angled in the right direction. Keep all the stems short in this arrangement so that the proportions of the flowers and foliage match the size and shape of the basket.

1. Place a watertight container inside a 12-inch round wicker basket. Arrange the chicken wire inside the container and fill the container with water. Create a skeleton framework of foliage with short stems of ivy. These stems should be angled so that their leaves fall softly over the sides of the bowl (image 1).

2. Add short stems of smokebush to give even coverage through the framework without it being over-full (image 2).

3. Add the roses next, as they are the biggest flower heads. Arrange them evenly through the arrangement (image 3).

4. Add the blackberries and St. John's wort berriesand then the sunflowers to finish (images 4 and 5).

Next Up

What better way to capture the romance of the countryside at midsummer than with a lightly scented, textural mix. Many of these ingredients, such as the herbs, lady's mantle and ivy trails, can be picked straight from the garden.

This spiral hand-tied bouquet captures many of the rich colors and textures of autumn flowers and foliage. Give it away as a gift, or put it in a rustic container and place it at the center of a table set for Sunday lunch.